Anand v Carlsen Match Set For India?

A report today in the Indian newspaper The Hindu claims that Chennai will be the venue for world chess champion Vishy Anand's next title defence against Magnus Carlsen.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa of the Tamil Nadu government claimed the match will be held in Chennai between 6 -26 November and the state government will allot Rs 29 crore (approx US$5.3 million) to fund the event.

From The Hindu:

Ms. Jayalalithaa said when the World Chess Federation president Kirsan Illyumzhinov met her in 2011, he had requested her to hold the World Chess Championship in Chennai. She also had agreed to organise the event at a cost of Rs. 20 crore.“However, it failed to materialise as Russia made the highest bidding for the championship. Since Tamil Nadu came forward to organise the event in 2012, The World Chess Federation agreed to hold it in Chennai without bidding,” she said.

Chennai missed out to Moscow on hosting the last world championship match between Anand and Gelfand, despite initially having the higher bid. FIDE's announcement then said that "the AICF (All India Chess Federation) would be given a first option of three months following the match in Moscow, to make a proposal for the organization of the World Chess Championship Match 2013".

The 3 months have passed, so it's not clear how much weight should be given to this promise.

The reaction from Carlsen's friends and supporters quoted in the Norwegian press has been understandably guarded and bemused, preferring that the match be held in a neutral venue - preferably with a cooler climate.

Tromsø in Norway is already set to hold the 2013 World Cup and the 2014 Olympiad, so it might also make a bid for the world championship match, if it can raise the necessary funds.

The company with the rights to the world championship, AGON, is rumoured to want to hold the match in New York. Until FIDE actually make an official announcement, we are probably no nearer to knowing the venue of the match just yet!

I could just as easily say that as a Carlsen fan you are simply making excuses already considering how Anand has a positive head-to-head record against Carlsen and how Carlsen pulled out of the previous contenders' tournament. India didn't suddenly decide to make a bid to host the match just because Carlsen is the challenger, there has been talk about hosting it for years. It's not like Anand only defends his title in India, he has played all over the world. This time it just happens to be held in India. If Carlsen really is that good he should be able to win anywhere, including India. This is not a case of two wrongs making a right at all because this whole idea of home advantage is overplayed as I stated before. It can work both ways and if anything, considering how Anand has had the better of Carlsen overall in their previous encounters and how Carlsen is ranked the highest, there will be more pressure on Anand. Of course as an Indian I would prefer that Anand retains the title however that doesn't mean I'm not being fair, I didn't make a fuss about how Anand had to defend his title in Bulgaria against Topalov prior to their match because I never saw it as being unfair. Even if Anand had lost it I wouldn't have, so my stance has been consistent.

It is you who is biased. The fact that you bring up abstract arguments like "I spoke to an Indian man who said that for money, justice is often not carried out there" as if every other country in the world is corruption-free and as if bribery is exclusive to India shows how you're just trying to find reasons why India shouldn't host the match. If India was so corrupt that it was unfit to host events such as this I'm sure the FIDE and governing bodies of other sports would have banned India from hosting events like these.

You miss the point. I have worked for and known some really nice Indian people. I think India is the only place Anand can beat Magnus. If Vishy is really that good, he should be able to beat him anywhere.

I was once talking to an Indian man who told me that for money, justice is often not carried out there. It would appear that something crooked is taking place here, even Fide's rules say so.

Do two wrongs make something right ? If Vishy has been wronged on a few occassions, how does perpetuating wrongs, bring absolution to this situation ? Are you interested in fairness for all chess players, or just biased to see your Indian champion remain champ ? Now who is being prejudicial ? It feels funny when the shoe is one the other foot doesn't it ?

I don't see any issue here, Anand defended his title against Topalov in Bulgaria with all that volcanic ash hampering his travel, this is all part and parcel of the game. I'm not suggesting that two wrongs make a right because I do believe the concept of home advantage is overplayed, if anything it is a double-edged sword. The pressure of performing at home against a player who is rated higher and tipped as the favorite could easily backfire at Anand as well. Also if the match should be held somewhere with a cooler climate who is to say that Anand would be comfortable with that? It works both ways. Bottom line is that if you want to called world champion, you'll have to be able to compete anywhere in the world(as Anand has done thus far), if you can't then you don't deserve to be the champion.

I am amazed at the amount of prejudice against India on this forum. While India certainly is an overpopulated country with lots of poor people it doesn't necessarily mean the country as a whole is poor. If they couldn't afford it they wouldn't have bid for it in the first place and if people in India could be "carried away by mosquitoes while looking in vain for a cheeseburger" then I'm sure the FIDE wouldn't have allowed them to host it either....some people are a lot dumber than they think they are. It's just pure spite and prejudice, grow up.

maybe he doesnnt want to be carried away by mosquitoes while looking in vain for a cheeseburger....i know about air conditioning, you dont have to try educating me, i am not as dumb as you look at the moment ...

Its funny, how people talk about Anand, no offence to Magnus, but Anand has was a international champion when Magnus was 10. so people respect him like my good friend Balachander said he had to face so much adversity in the previous championship game a yet he still won.

i am glad you have stopped arguing. considering i never was, i am glad this wasnt in person. it seems it may have gotten personal, if you were taking it so personal. i was merely stating the facts...... a hypothetical question.....what if india is the only place anand could beat carlsen ? what if carlsen owns him everywhere else ? it isnt rrocket science. i wont even waste my time answering my own rhetoric. there isnt an answer that you can give that will give excuse the cowardess. i would have gladly sent bobby fischer to a neutral venue, halfway between the opponents homeland and have a good fair match.....oh wait, that is what happened....

And you seem to be very much afraid that Carlsen can't defeat Anand in Chennai.

I don't wish to argue any further. Carlsen is a great player, has his own style and is an inspiration to many. I like his style too. Carlsen has good chances of being the world champion this time, he is a huge talent, but I'm sure venue will not have any influence in the games. All sportspersons have to travel to different venues. Whether the Olympics is in China or London or Athens, players from all over the globe travel to the location. Some maybe staying in very far away countries. They don't complain of airsickness.

As far as neutral venue is concerned, I've already said, Anand played against Topalov in Bulgaria. Many times in history World Championships have been held in one player's home country. And even in non chess sports like football for instance, teams have to play at home and away. Home advantage [or pressure] is a natural part of the game. I don't see the problem with it.

have you ever flown on a commercial jet ? sometimes the pressure in my ears doesnt equalize for days after flying just a few hours. even if they both flew from western europe, they might as well have the match on anands patio....are you affraid anand cant beat him if they hold the match elsewhere ? .....you seem hell bent on it being there. notice i have never once insisted it be in norway. maybe i should start saying it should be. if you tell me he doesnt deserve it, i will ask you what that has to do with price of rice in china.... just because someone is the champion doesnt entitle them to advantages....it should be a fair, impartial game held in a completely neutral and practical venue....if you want them both to travel and play in the heat, you could atleast pick some where nicer, unless of course you just want anand to have home field advantage.... it is chess, not cricket...chess players dont have their own home stadiums, nor should they....

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